This list was quite general and I found some more questions to add and a better subdivision of them. Some of the questions are specifically for frequently moving families, but most of them are universal.

1) To make your child(ren) feel comfortable:

• Does the school have planned activities to assist your child in a positive start to school?
• Do the students seem happy at school?
• Do the students look actively engaged in learning?
• Does the school assign “buddies” to new students?
• Do the grades interact, and if yes, how and when?
• How big are the classes, how is the student-teacher ratio?
• Does the school allow parents to volunteer in the classroom?
• Is the approach child-centered and challenging enough to develop each child’s strenghts and love of learning?
• Are the course offerings extensive enough to meet your child’s needs?
• At what age are students offered modern languages?
• What is the daily, weekly, monthly schedule like?
• How much movement or multisensory experiences are built into the curriculum?
• How much homework is there?
• How many co-curricular activities (arts, sports, clubs etc.) are offered? Are they included in the school fees?
• To what extent can you be a partner in your child’s learning?

2) General questions about the school

• How many years has the school existed?
• Is the school board run by parents who are elected?
• What is the reputation of the accrediting institution(s)?
• What is the duration for the current school accreditation?
• Was the annual report with budgets available for you to inspect?
• Does this schoo have a particular educational philosophy or mission?
• What are some of the school’s greatest accomplishments? What are some of the biggest challenges this school faces?

3) Reachablilty and safety

• How long will it take for your child to get to school?
• Is there a bus service available for this school? What kind of bus service (door to door or other)? Is your company going to contribute in the expenses of the bus service?
• What security precautions are forseen by the school? Is the campus a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment?
• What is this school’s approach to student discipline and safety?
• Does the school have a nurse? If my child has severe allergies: what are the school policies (nuts allergies etc.)?
• How does the school manage bullying (on the playground and cyberbullying)?

4) Teachers / staff

• Are all the teachers certified, including ESL, SEN, PE etc. teachers?
• Are the language teachers certified teachers?
• What are the expectations for staff about students of high ability, special needs, ESL and other areas?
• How long on average does the school retain its teachers?
• What percentage of teachers has earned advanced degrees?
• Does the school support professional development, so teacher learn and apply “best practices”?
• Is time dedicated for teachers to meet as teams to jointly plan curriculum and assess each child’s needs?
• Does the staff seem happy?
• During your visit, are teachers available and friendly?
• What is the “feeling” or “tone” of the staff? Are they friendly and professional?
• How frequently will you receive information concerning your child’s progress?

5) Curriculum

• What types of standardized tests are offered, and how do the students perform?
• Is the curriculum broadened with “best practices” around the world, so students can be well prepared for their next school?
• How is technology used to support teaching and learning at this school?
• If your child has ‘special learning needs’, how will the school meet these?
• What strategies are used to teach students who are not fluent in English (or the language lessons are taught in)?
• What types of field trips are available for students? Which are compulsory?
• How do the arts fit into the curriculum? Is there a school choir, band or orchestra? A school play? Art classes?
• How does this school support students who have academic, social or emotional difficulties?

6 a) For elementary schools

• What are some highlights of this school’s curriculum in reading, math, science and social studies?
• What criteria are used to determine student placement in classes?
• How does this school keep parents informed of school information and activities?
• Is there an active Parent Teacher Association (PTA)? What other types of parent involvement take place at this school?
• Is child care available before or after school?

6 b) For middle schools

• How does the school guide and prepare students for major academic decisions that will define their options in high school and beyond?
• Are foreign language classes (French, Spanish, German etc.) offered to students? Are they part of the curriculum?
• Do they offer language classes in minority languages? Are they part of the curriculum?
• If the school is large, does it make an effort to provide activities that create a sense of community?

6 c) For high schools

• What student-support services are available for individual student counselling and university placement?
• What programs are in place for drug and alcohol prevention?
• What programs are in place to prevent bullying (incl. cyberbullying)?
• Does this school have a particular academic focus, such as science or humanities?
• Does this school have any school-to-work programs or specialized academies?
• What kind of emphasis does the school place on college preparation?
• Does the school have a good selection of Advanced Placement classes?
• What percentage of students takes the SAT ? Where do students go after they graduate? How many attend four-year colleges? What kind of degrees are possible? (In Europe: A, B, AB, IB, EB etc.)
• Does the school offer a variety of career planning options for students who are not college bound?
• Are counselors available to help students make important decisions about classes and post-graduation plans?
• What percentage of students who start at the school in ninth grade graduate?
• Does the school staff set high expectations for all students?
• How do students get to school? Is there a parking lot, and are buses (public or district-provided) available?
• Is this school accredited?

7) Facilities

• Do classrooms look cheerful? Is student work displayed, and does it seem appropriate for the grade level?
• Do teachers seem enthusiastic and knowledgeable, asking questions that stimulate students and keep them engaged?
• Does the principal seem confident and interested in interacting with students, teachers and parents?
• How do students behave as they move from class to class or play outside?
• How well are the facilities maintained? Are bathrooms clean and well supplied, and do the grounds look safe and inviting?
• Are all the facilities like playgrounds, libraries, IT etc. state-of-the-art and well maintained?
• Does the school provide different facilities, such as libraries, cafeterias and sport areas for different grade levels?
• What kind of library resources are available for students?
• Does the school provide warm meals/catering service?
• What facilities are open to family members?
• What is the quality of air, water and noise around the school?
• Is the community surrounding the school residential, commercial or inner-city?

Last but not least:

• Were all questions answered in a straight-forward manner with documentation readily offered?

Excellent articles about this topic:

http://kidoinfo.com/ri/top-10-questions-to-ask-when-choosing-a-school-for-your-child-with-learning-differences/

http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/school-visit/24-the-school-visit-what-to-look-for-what-to-ask.gs?page=all

http://voices.yahoo.com/the-ten-most-important-questions-ask-choosing-383086.html

http://school.familyeducation.com/school-selection/parenting/38802.html

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